CHARACTER STUDY

Amid the overwhelming alerts about new unlocks or in-game currency that feeds into Naraka’s intrusive monetisation systems – which may raise eyebrows for a premium title – there’s also the opportunity to learn more about the heroes. As you play as each one, you’ll achieve Greater Understanding by ticking off progression targets, such as kills or distance travelled, and unlock Heroic Tales. In truth, the prose comes a distant second to the accompanying monochrome illustrations. Yet providing canonical lore feels at odds with the freedom to customise heroes’ faces into unrecognisable new versions – something the developer has been encouraging on social media. There’s a tactical drawback, too: inconsistent designs could serve to confuse players as to which hero – and skills – they’re facing.